Effects of an artificial reef on the soft-bottom community (Western Adriatic Sea)

The Porto Recanati artificial reef (Adriatic Sea) was investigated starting just after its deployment for a total of five years. Quantitative benthic samples were collected outside (K) and inside the reef (close and far from the concrete modules; C and F, respectively) to evaluate the influence of the artificial structures on the soft-bottom community. No differences were highlighted by MDS and Simper analysis among the three sites in the first year. Starting from the second year the homogeneity between K and F sites was confirmed, whereas C sites always appeared different from the others, due to the presence of hard-bottom species which were more numerous close to the structures.